50 Baby Names Climbing the Charts

Every generation has those names that identify the time. In the 80s it was Jessica and Jennifer, Micheal and Christopher. In the 90s Ashley replaced Jennifer at the top. In the 2000s Jacob, Emily, and Madison took over the top spots. Once 2010 hit Jacob, Ethan, Isabella, and Sophia were the chart leaders.

It's hard to know for sure which names are going to be the next big thing, but these 50 names increased the most in popularity from 2013 to 2014. The fact is, in the end the name that you choose should be the name that you love; the name that you can see your child having for the rest of his or her life. There's nothing wrong with choosing a popular name, just as there is nothing wrong with choosing a name that stands out. But if you want to be sure that their name will fit in, or stand out, it's worth knowing which names are making their way up the charts.

Are any of your name picks one of these increasingly popular options? Which names do you think will make next year's list?

Boy: Bode

Rank in 2014: 783 Rank in 2013: 1428= an increase of 645

I love this boy name. I believe the increase in popularity is thanks to Olympic skier, Bode Miller? There could certainly be worse namesakes!

Girl: Aranza

Rank in 2014: 607 Rank in 2013: 4232 = an increase of 3625

As far as I can find, this is not a word in Spanish, even though it definitely sounds like one.

Boy: Axl

Rank in 2014: 850 Rank in 2013: 1474= an increase of 624

I'm not the biggest fan of this one, but if you love Guns N' Roses, be my guest!

Girl: Montserrat

Rank in 2014: 571 Rank in 2013: 1153 = an increase of 582

This falls into my personal rule of don't name your child after a place unless you've been there and loved it. If you've been to the British island territory or the monastery near Barcelona, Spain, and fell in love with either place, then great.

I know; everyone commenting on my last 50 of the Fastest Rising Baby Names post seemed to dislike the fact that I'm not a fan of misspelt names, but my opinion remains unchanged! I'd like this better if it were spelled, ‘Paisley', like the pattern it's named after.

Boy: Bodhi

Rank in 2014: 615 Rank in 2013: 807 = an increase of 192

When I first heard of this name this was the spelling used, not as in Bode Miller. I actually think I like this spelling more! This spelling is Sanskrit for ‘awakening, enlightenment'.

Girl: Khaleesi

Rank in 2014: 755 Rank in 2013: 1020 = an increase of 265

I'm a big fan of A Song of Ice and Fire AKA Game of Thrones, but not enough of a fan of this name (technically, title) to use it for my baby name.

Image via iStock

Boy: Rowen

Rank in 2014: 787 Rank in 2013: 976 = an increase of 189

This is a good one! Although according to the baby name sites it's a female name spelled, ‘Rowan', and is Scottish and Irish in origin, meaning ‘little redhead'. I'm with the Scottish/Irish on this one!

Girl: Ayva

Rank in 2014: 950 Rank in 2013: 1213 = an increase of 263

I like what Nameberry has to say about the spelling, “Ayva is a new entry in the popular Ava and Eva cluster. Its only advantage over the original is that it clarifies pronunciation … but that's not much of a problem if you simply spell it Ava.”

Boy: Boden

Rank in 2014: 992 Rank in 2013: 1177 = an increase of 185

This is my first time seeing this one, and I think I like it! It's an English or German surname meaning, ‘hill shaped like a bow'.

Girl: Anniston

Rank in 2014: 905 Rank in 2013: 1161 = an increase of 256

Is this the new ‘Addison'? All I can think of when reading it is Jennifer Aniston, which makes me want to watch some Friends!

50 Baby Names Climbing the Charts

I have a constant craving for adventure and love to pack as much fun into life as I can. Becoming a mom to one sweet boy has caused me to slow down - a little, and provided me with a wonderful new way to find joy in life. I try my darndest to soak it all in, as I have already found life to move a lot quicker since welcoming this little hunk of love into it. I am married to an amazing man, and I'm still trying to figure out how to embrace the changes in our relationship that have come with new pa ... More

EverydayFamily.com offers general information and is for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for professional medical, psychiatric or psychological advice. Nothing on this website should be taken to imply an endorsement of EverydayFamily.com or its partners by any person quoted or mentioned.